Sophie von Kessel

Actor

Sophie von Kessel, born on October 12, 1968, in Mexico City, is an outstanding German actress who has gained widespread recognition for her work in television, film, and theater. Her international training at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna, the Juilliard School in New York, and in Berlin under Uta Hagen laid the foundation for a diverse career that established her on stages such as the Munich Kammerspiele and the Burgtheater in Vienna. In the drama LEBENDIG (2019, directed by Michael Siebert), Sophie von Kessel plays the role of Sophie, a theater actress with terminal cancer. Together with Wolfram Rupperti, she tells the moving story of a life coming to an end, in which she builds a tender connection despite her illness and dares to make her last big appearance. The performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and sensitive interpretation and earned her several awards for best actress. Sophie von Kessel is also known to many from series such as “Schloß Hohenstein” (1992–1995), “Der letzte Zeuge” and “Die Konferenz,” for which she received the Hessian Television Award. She has appeared in crime dramas such as “Tatort,” “Die Chefin,” “Laim und der letzte Schuldige,” and “Erzgebirgskrimi,” and impresses with her versatility on screen, stage, and in radio plays. With her presence, ability to nuance characters, and strong choice of roles, Sophie von Kessel is considered one of the most prominent German actresses of today.

Films on Sooner

Alive

2019

94 mins

Drama, Independent

Sophie and Wolfram meet in the hospital and set off together on their final journey. Both are terminally ill with cancer.